How Much Caffeine Is in Robusta Coffee? Surprising Facts!

Whether you’re a fan of a piping hot cup of coffee each morning or simply live with someone who does, you’ve most likely heard about the different coffee brands and types on the market. Robusta coffee is one of these coffee options you’ll find when choosing a coffee to make at home. While many feel this coffee is less popular than the other choice, Arabica, there are fans of Robusta and the high caffeine content it contains. Let’s learn a bit more about this coffee, how it compares to others, and the brands you may find it in. A Robusta coffee bean contains 2.2% caffeine, which is about double the caffeine in Arabica coffee. You can expect up to 265 mg of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup of Robusta coffee.

What Is Robusta Coffee?

Robusta coffee originated in Africa from the sub-Saharan regions. It comes from a plant called Coffea canephora and is one of the two main species of the coffee plant along with Arabica. The Robusta plant was first identified in the 1800s and has been a part of the coffee world ever since with it raking in up to 40% of the coffee grown worldwide.

Robusta coffee is considered to be of a lower quality than its counterpart due to the difference in growing conditions needed. While Arabica is grown in higher elevations with lots of rain, Robusta doesn’t need the same requirements. Also known as sun-grown coffee, Robusta can be grown in most areas without the care required for Arabica. This can affect the taste of the beans, however, and is the reason more people prefer Arabica.

The Caffeine in Robusta Coffee

One of the other big differences when it comes to Robusta and Arabica coffee is the caffeine content. A Robusta bean contains roughly 2.2% caffeine. You’ll only find 1.2% caffeine in an Arabica bean. With this difference in beans, it’s understandable that a cup of Robusta coffee would have a high amount of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup. The 265 mg of caffeine found in Robusta coffee is a pretty extreme amount.

Determining the exact Robusta coffee caffeine content can be difficult. Several things can affect the caffeine content, such as the growing conditions, the brewing method, and especially the bean quality. You will realize, however, that any cup of Robusta coffee will feature roughly 83% more caffeine than Arabica due to the beans having such drastic differences. This amount of caffeine even puts Robusta coffee at the same level as certain energy drinks on the market.

Here’s a look at how Robusta measures up to other highly caffeinated beverages on the market.

The Danger of Too Much Caffeine

As we all know, too much caffeine can be bad for your health. You should keep this in mind when drinking Robusta coffee or coffee brands made from these beans. The FDA recommends 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, but heavy coffee drinkers often go over this amount. For those who have caffeine sensitivities, you may experience issues if you consume too much caffeine. This is why you should always be aware of how much is in your cups each morning.

Here’s a look at the caffeine amounts found in 3 of the most popular brands of coffee featuring Robusta beans.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, Robusta coffee is a powerhouse when it comes to caffeine content. With 265 mg of caffeine in an 8 fl. oz. cup, it is easy to see why people who want the energy boost caffeine provides would turn to this coffee. If you are a fan of Robusta coffee, proceed with caution. Always keep your eyes open for caffeine intolerance while you enjoy your fresh brews.

• See Also: How Much Caffeine Is in Devil’s Brew Extreme?

Featured Image Credit: Vietnamese_coffee, Pixabay